A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov on Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.
Parshas Terumah
Serve Hashem with Radiance!
The annual study of the construction of the Mishkan is always exciting. The repository of the Shechina, the Mishkan is not a simple building by any means. Indeed, the deep symbolism of each and every aspect of the design, materials and construction process is chock full of practical messages and lessons for us to live by. Let us explore one fascinating facet further.
The Torah teaches that uppermost cover upon the roof of the Mishkan was fitted with the skin of Techashim. Chazal explain that the Tachash was a unicorn. It was a strikingly beautiful animal with a single horn. It was comprised of six colors which caught the eye of all who were deeply mesmerized by its sheer magnificence. Miraculously, the Tachash appeared in the midbar during the construction of the mishkan to gift its fleece to the House of Hashem after which, it disappeared forever to become a legend.
Interestingly, Hashem Yisborach commanded that our house of worship be enveloped by this multi-color skin. This was to symbolize for us the differentiated persona of each of the Shevatim who themselves would later be represented by their own colored flag, unique symbol and precious stone. Klal Yisrael was not expected to be the same. As an icon of ritual, the resting place of the Shechina, the Mishkan, was teaching us how to serve the Roibbon Shel Olam. Our avoda would need to be vibrant, radiant and colorful, so to speak, reflecting how we each were to bring our own personal kochos to our avodas Hashem. Only then could we hope for perfection.
The Meam Loez, presents an even deeper insight. He notes that the Targum translates the word for the aforementioned unicorn, the Tachash as “sassgavna.” Sassgavna, according to the Meam Loez, is really an anagram of the two words “Sas” to rejoice and “Gavna” colors. It teaches us that the Tachash itself “samcha b’liba al rov gvanim shebah,” that the unicon rejoiced and celebrated in its heart on account of its multicolored hues! It was b’simcha. Not because it was the same as everything (and everyone) else but because it was unique, colorful and stunningly distinct. This idea, too, must be part of our understanding of what our avoda is to be.
Mi shenichnas Adar marbin b’simcha. We must learn from the Tachash, the sassgavna. We must remember that we are not expected or even encouraged to serve Hashem Yisborach only in black and white. Our ahavas Hashem and yiras Shamayim must be characterized by the full spectrum of color symbolized by the roof which capped the Mishkan. Enveloped in color, it was the perfect home to host the Keruvim and house the Aron which contained the Luchos haEidus we still live by. Indeed, each Yid has a role to play, a color to broadcast and an individual task to fulfill. Using our kochos responsibly we can feel our own shade and hue shine forth from our soul and find the fulfillment in our avoda Hashem Yisborach intends. Doing so we will find our selves with that Tachash sense of simcha as we become the sassgavna – rejoicing and celebrating the shelamus of reaching our potential and the multi-colored, distinctive approach to avodas Hashem of each and every Jew.
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